Floor-cloth



Specimen s.)

' D. N. MELVIN.

FLOOR CLOTH.

No. 387,244. Patented Aug. 7, 1888.

N. PEI'Ens. Fhutn-Lilhogmphar, Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FHCEO DAVID NEILSON MELVIN, OF LINOLEUMVILLE, NE'W YORK,

FLOOR-*CLCTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,244, dated August 7, 1888.

Application filed July 7, 1887. Serial No. 243.621.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID NEILsoN MEL- VIN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in Linoleumville, Richmond county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Cloths, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention has for its object the preparation of a cushioned bottom for floor-cloth, that will best suit itself to the uneven surfaces, cracks, and joints of the average flooring, and that will furnish an elastic bed or tread as well as provide a more durable and attractive covering for floors where carpets are objectionable. To effect such object, Iattach to the back or bottom of any of the present known floor-cloths a cushion lining or layer composed of a mixture of largegrain cork and dried or thickened linseed-oil. In the ordinary preparation of this cushion bottom or lining the large-grain cork is mixed with a linseed-oil cement, composed of two parts, from which the moisture has been evaporated, and one part boiled after the usual methods, a little driers being preferably added to assist the drying of the material after being made. Only sufficient of this cement is mixed with the cork to thoroughly coat it, and furnish sufficient to effect a thorough adhesion of the grains. WVhen so mixed, it is rolled into sheets and at once applied to the back of the floor-cloth, or, when dry, cemented to the cloth by a second process. It can also be laid with a trowel, or similar methods. The preferable method of preparing the dried oil (Specimens) is to dry it in thin skins or films by spreading it layer upon layer with a brush until a sufficient thickness is produced for handling, when it is cut up into small pieces and mixed and dissolved in boiled linseed-oil to form the cement ready for mixture with the cork.

Referring to the drawing, the figure represents a section out through a piece of cushioned floor-cloth, in which A designates the hard top or wearing thickness or layer, B the Woven fabric for strengthening,and O the cushioned backing or bottom compounded and ap plied as already stated. Any of the wellknown floor-cloths,eithcr ofthe linoleum or oil type, may be provided with this backing, and said backing may be, if necessary, applied either by brush, trowel, or scraper; or, being fed to a pair of rolls, it may be rolled on, the mixture in all cases being snfiicientl y adhesive to stick to the upper layers, to which it may be applied and form an integral portion of the completed cushioned floor-cloth.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a floor-covering consisting, essentially, of an upper or wearing layer, an under or cushion layer of granular elastic material, and an intermediate layer of woven fabric, the three layers being united by adhesive substances, substantially as set forth.

DAVID NEILSON MELVIN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. WEIGHTMAN, A. M. PIEEoE. 

